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Vulnerability record · CVE-2009-2422 · published 10 July 2009

CVE-2009-2422: Rubyonrails ruby on rails improper authentication vulnerability

Rubyonrails · Ruby On Rails

The example code for the digest authentication functionality (http_authentication.rb) in Ruby on Rails before 2.3.3 defines an authenticate_or_request_with_http_digest block that returns nil instead of false when the user does not exist, which allows context-dependent attackers to bypass authentication for applications that are derived from this example by sending an invalid username without a password.

9.8 CVSS 3.1 Critical EPSS 3.4% · top 11.7% CWE-287 · Improper authentication
9.8CVSS 3.1 base score, v2 7.5
3.4%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
3Affected product versions listed by NVD
16References, 2 tagged exploit
16 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

The example code for the digest authentication functionality (http_authentication.rb) in Ruby on Rails before 2.3.3 defines an authenticate_or_request_with_http_digest block that returns nil instead of false when the user does not exist, which allows context-dependent attackers to bypass authentication for applications that are derived from this example by sending an invalid username without a password.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

3 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2010//Mar/msg00001.html Mailing List
http://n8.tumblr.com/post/117477059/security-hole-found-in-rails-2-3s ExploitPatch
http://secunia.com/advisories/35702 Broken LinkVendor Advisory
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4077 Third Party Advisory
http://weblog.rubyonrails.org/2009/6/3/security-problem-with-authenticate_with_http_digest Patch
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/35579 Broken LinkPatchThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1802 Broken LinkPatchVendor Advisory
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/51528 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2010//Mar/msg00001.html Mailing List
http://n8.tumblr.com/post/117477059/security-hole-found-in-rails-2-3s ExploitPatch
http://secunia.com/advisories/35702 Broken LinkVendor Advisory
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4077 Third Party Advisory
http://weblog.rubyonrails.org/2009/6/3/security-problem-with-authenticate_with_http_digest Patch
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/35579 Broken LinkPatchThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1802 Broken LinkPatchVendor Advisory
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/51528 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2009-2422), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-26). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.